Inspiring Women Among Us Launches Its Third Year

Advanced Education Minister Melanie Mark opened the Inspiring Women Among Us conference at UNBC this morning. She spoke of growing up in less-than-ideal circumstances through childhood and faced a triple theat growing into adulthood.

“A poor, indigenous woman. So my socioeconomic status definitely played a role in my resilience; people ask me to do the Welfare Challenge and I say ‘I grew up in poverty.’ I know what it’s like not to have a car or bus fare.”

The theme to this year’s conference “Women, Work and Allies.” It involves 41 different events and speakers over the course of November.

“So we’re trying to touch upon work, whether paid or unpaid, people’s perceptions of work, different career progression, leadership and success and what helps people get there or what holds them back,” explains Co-Organizer Zoe Meletis.